Luxury Accommodation
Professional Safari Guide
All Natureways Safaris guides have passed the rigorous examination set by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management and hold either a valid Canoe or Professional Guides’ License. All guides carry a licensed weapon on the River. They have all studied and passed a MARS (Medical Air Rescue Services) first aid course and take a refresher course annually. If any problems should occur during the Safari there are various contact points along the River, these will be covered in safety briefings conducted before and during the Safari. Each guide also carries an ‘Emergency Safety Manual’ with a map and comprehensive instructions of what to do if a situation arises.
Odyssey Safaris have the benefit of a Professional Guide who is able to conduct canoeing safaris as well as walking safaris. Explorer Safaris are lead by a fully qualified Canoe Guide who is usually accompanied by a Learner guide. A learner guide must have at least 1000 hours of canoeing experience just to be able to site the Canoe Guides exam!
About the Safari
Kariba to Chirundu - Departs Tues/Sat/Sun All Year
DAY ONE (18 KM)
You will be collected on the morning of your safari at 7:30am, in good time for a check-in at the operators’ office, handing in extra luggage and valuables. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE YOUR PASSPORT ON THE RIVER. There will be a short briefing to summarise what the safari entails and questions may be asked. Guests will be required to sign an indemnity form before leaving on the safari. After the briefing, a visit to the shops will be made, purchasing any extra drinks wanted for the trip before setting off for the river. Please note that credit cards are not a recommended payment option in Zimbabwe. After arriving at the start point, luggage will be portered into the gorge and your group will walk the 1.5kms down to the river - quite a long, steep descent. All canoes and camping equipment will have already been carried into the gorge and packed. A safety talk and demonstration on how to paddle a canoe will be given after which you will be launched, then paddling until a stop is made for lunch. Lunch is picnic-style affair after which there will be time for a siesta to avoid the worst heat of the day at which time canoeing recommences. At approximately 5pm you will arrive and set up camp on an island named Crocodile Rocks. There will be time to have a bucket bath, relax and eat dinner after a brief safety talk on camping.
DAY TWO (27 KM)
You will be woken at sunrise for tea, coffee and biscuits before canoeing a couple of hours and then stopping for a leisurely breakfast. After breakfast you will set off once again, enjoying the incredible scenery of the Zambezi Valley. A lunch stop will be made at the first suitable spot – with time, once again, for a siesta. In the early evening, the second campsite at Twin Logs Island, will be reached.
DAY THREE (20 KM)
Up at sunrise for tea, coffee, biscuits and breakfast before going on the river. Between 10:30 and 11:00am the pick-up point at Chirundu will be reached. Here the equipment will be loaded for the return trip to Kariba or Kariba airport. Arrival back in Kariba is estimated to be 3pm. As you depart with your memories, we know that this experience will have enriched your life and touched your soul!
DAILY ROUTINE
Generally the day starts with tea/coffee and biscuits at sunrise. Camp is then packed up and the party sets off. Early mornings make for easy paddling as the wind is calm and it is not yet too hot. A stop will be made for breakfast, usually after a couple of hours. The trip continues after breakfast, until breaking for a light lunch and siesta to avoid the midday heat. The night stop is reached at approximately 5pm and the camp is unpacked and setup. Campsites are typically set up on islands and all sites are designated by National Parks.
ABLUTIONS
There are no ablution facilities on these safaris. Clients are provided with a spade, toilet paper and matches - with which to burn the toilet paper. Bathing is done from a bucket using water scooped out of the river.
BACK-UP STATUS
Explorer Safaris are self-contained. All equipment and food is carried in the canoes and there is no vehicle back-up apart from drop-off and pick-up. As these safaris are semi-participatory, clients are required to help up setup tents and to assist the guide with the cooking and washing up.
EQUIPMENT SUPPLIED
All camping equipment is supplied. This includes gas stoves, kitchen utensils, pots and pans, plastic plates, mugs, tables, stools, camping mattresses, sleeping bags and liners, candles, matches, cooler boxes and dome tents. Clients can bring their own sleeping bags if preferred. Fishing equipment is not supplied but clients may bring their own.
FOOD
All food is supplied and meals are of a good standard. Meat and poultry dishes are precooked, frozen and stored in a cooler box during the safari. Some fresh produce (fruit and vegetables) are provided on the safari. Long safaris such as the Zambezi Classic Long are re-supplied in either Chirundu or Mana Pools.
• Breakfast usually consists of fruit, eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans or tomato relish, toast and jams.
• Lunch consists of cold meats, salads, cheese and bread.
• Dinner consist of a variety of meat and vegetable dishes.
DRINKS
Tea, coffee, cordials and imported wine with dinner are provided on Explorer Safaris. Processed water is provided on all our trips however we also provide 2 litres of bottled mineral water per person per day. Clients are therefore advised to bring their own minerals (soft drinks), beer and spirits. Clients will be able to purchase these before the trip when taken shopping prior to departure. Drinks must be bought in cans to reduce weight and space. A cooler box is set aside for keeping drinks cold. There are no opportunities to replenish stocks on the river.
Wildlife
The wildlife in Zimbabwe's National Parks is hugely abundant and below is a taster of what you might see on these Mobile Canoe Safaris. The full list would be far too numerous and why ruin the surprise? Join us on safari and find out for yourself as every day is different.
